4 trends of african philosophy pdf

He starts by examining four trends or approaches identified by odera oruka regarding what people have charac terized as african philosophy. Basically, there are four trends that can be regarded as the core of african contemporary philosophy in our present times. These trends confirm that african philosophy is more than traditions, culture or ubuntu. Jan 21, 20 a discourse on the major orientations in african philosophy. Although african philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy. The question of african philosophy philosophy cambridge core. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa 41 reflections on the four trends in african philosophy to shed light on education in africa. Oswell hapanyengwichemhuru, odera orukas four trends in. This enterprise is informed by the conviction that philosophy of education, while it deals with some issues that are peculiar to education, can benefit immensely from other philosophical discourses. In another essay popularly associated with his name, oruka identified four main trends to be constitutive of african philosophy, namely i african ethnophilosophy, ii african nationalistideological philosophy, iii professional african philosophy, and of course, iv the african sage philosophy under consideration here. Odera oruka and the question of methodology in african philosophy. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising.

The late kenyan philosopher, henry odera oruka, identified six schools of thought on what. The sage philosophy project began in the mid1970s at the department of philosophy of the university of nairobi kenya. O hapanyengwi odera orukas four trends and their implications. At the university, henry odera oruka 19441995 popularized the term sage philosophy project, and closely related terms such as philosophic sagacity, both by initiating a project of interviewing african sages, and by naming this project in. Trends and issues in african philosophy researchgate.

The first four are the generally well known and well explained schools of african philosophy. The african philosophy reader, second edition coetzee, p. The late kenyan philosopher, henry odera oruka, identified six schools of thought on what african philosophy is or could be, namely, ethnophilosophy. It was a project started in the 1970s in an attempt to preserve the knowledge of the indigenous thinkers in traditional african communities. So the talk of a uniquely african conceptual framework or way of thinking african mentality with respect, at least, to the discipline of philosophy is not entertained. Pdf henry odera oruka and the question of methodology in. Phi 207 trends and orientations in african philosophy. The late kenyan philosopher, henry odera oruka, identified six schools of thought on what african philosophy is or could be, namely, ethno philosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy. African sage philosophy internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Pdf odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and. However, recent research shows that wonder may have different subsets. African philosophy of education kai and penny 2009. Bodunrin argues that the quest for african philosophy is an attempt to meet the challenges created by the colonial situa.

Pdf odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their. As already mentioned, orukas classification enjoys support by most african philosophers. On the one hand, readers are introduced to various trends as distinguished by different authors, and on the other, they are given an idea of debates on issues raised by such classifications. What is here called crosscultural understanding is itself a kind of compara. Methodology, african philosophy, philosophic sagacity, hermeneuticoreconstructionism. Unit 3 essay oruka four trends pls1502 unisa studocu. Consequently, it utilizes interview, discussion and dialogue. Henry odera oruka 1 june 1944, nyanza province 9 december 1995, nairobi was a kenyan philosopher who is best known for sage philosophy. In this philosophical trend, sages get the status of formal community thinkers. African philosophy then is not expected to be an excep tion to this meaning of philosophy.

Department of philosophy and religious studies, kogi state university anyigba, nigeria. History of african philosophy internet encyclopedia of. Project muse african philosophy and thought systems. Many readers and anthologies, introductions, and other paedagogical publications have. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for. African sage philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising world international journal of humanities social sciences and education ijhsse page 88 philosophy would be nothing more than asking and offering rational explanations of the universe. This article traces the history of systematic african philosophy from the early 1920s to date.

In an attempt either to answer this ques tion or demonstrate examples of african philo sophical thought, various proposals and findings have sprang up. Key words trends in african philosophy, philosophy of education, henry odera oruka the late kenyan philosopher, henry odera oruka, identified six schools of thought on what african philosophy is or could be, namely, ethnophilosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy. The four philosophical trends identified by oruka are, thus. Oyeshile department of philosophy, university of ibadan, ibadan, nigeria introduction the definition of philosophy has remained a perennial philosophical problem and there is little agreement as to what it is. Ebscohost serves thousands of libraries with premium essays, articles and other content including odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa. Before i embark on the models that constitute the current african worldview, it may be appropriate if we asked the question, what is the overall picture of contemporary philosophy in the african continent today. Oct 17, 2016 as a rational critical inquiry on africans and their worlds, it is consequently the task of african philosophy and of african philosophers to make the uncoordinated coordinated, the uncritical. Odera oruka, four trends in current african philosophy. An african student of philosophy who takes a course in african philosophy for the first time may be shocked by the fact that an extensive amount of literature on african philosophy is devoted to the polemic surrounding the issue of the existence and essence of african philosophy.

This book provides an excellent orientation to, and a logical development of, the major trends and issues that have dominated discussions in african philosophy since the publication of placide. Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. The specific concept of narrative in african philosophy and its value for crosscultural understanding will surface often and be developed in several ways throughout the book. The paper examines the relevance of odera orukas philosophical sagacity, in response to the challenges of ethno philosophy and deconstructive drive of professional philosophers, to contemporary african thought system. Jan 17, 2017 african philosophy and thought systems. This undertaking is pertinent in the light of the dearth of literature on african philosophy of education. We would not know how to think, or walk, or speak, or. It is accessible and handy to a wider range of readers, ranging from educators and students of african philosophy, anthropology, african studies, cultural studies, and all those concerned with the further development of african philosophy and thought systems on the african continent. Phi 207 trends and orientations in african philosophy youtube. A discourse on the major orientations in african philosophy.

Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and. Odera oruka, identified six approaches to the answer as to what african philosophy is or could be, namely, ethnophilosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalisticideological philosophy, professional philosophy, hermeneutic philosophy, and artistic or literary philosophy oruka 1998, 101. A journal of the philosophical association of kenya pak new series, vol. In a paper presented at the international symposium in memory of dr william amo, the ghanaian philosopher who taught in german universities in the early part of the eighteenth century, professor odera oruka identified four trends, perhaps more appropriately approaches, in current african philosophy. Introduction the past three or more decades have witnessed a deluge of works on the twin quest to know whether african philosophy exists and what its nature consists of.

Consequently, in this paper, we reflect on the relevance to education in africa of the four trends in african philosophy clearly outlined by oruka. This book provides an excellent orientation to, and a logical development of, the major trends and issues that have dominated discussions in african philosophy since the publication of placide tempels bantu philosophy in 1945. Odera oruka the expression african philosophy often ani mates the question w hat is african philoso phy. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans.

Key words trends in african philosophy, philosophy of education, henry odera oruka introduction in response to the debate on the existence of african philosophy, the late kenyan philosopher, h. Whether or not compelling responses to these questions are forthcoming, horsthemke argues that the possibility and plausibility of african philosophy of education might nonetheless be established. Africana philosophy is the name for an emergent and still developing field of ideas and ideaspaces, intellectual endeavors, discourses, and discursive networks within and beyond academic philosophy that was recognized as such by national and international organizations of professional philosophers, including the american philosophical. Origin, trends and articulation of african philosophy 3 origin, trends and articulation of african philosophy 3 on february 18, 2011 12. Odera orukas four trends in african philosophy and their implications for education in africa oswell hapanyengwichemhuru department of educational foundations university of zimbabwe zimbabwe email protected thought and practice. In platos theaetetus, socrates suggests that philosophy begins with wonder. The african ubuntu philosophy a person is a person through other persons. Origin, trends and articulation of african philosophy 3. This becomes even more apparent when one considers that the arguments that have been profferred. Philosophy from africa r cm trends in current african csoph h. H odera orukas four trends in african philosophy when studying orukas classification, keep in mind that he comes from the englishspeaking side and does not represent francophone african philosophy in his classification. This paper examines the contribution of henry odera oruka, a kenyan philosopher, to the discourse on the problem of methodology in african philosophy. The philosophical paradigm of african identity and development. Understanding of african philosophy through philosophy for.

In orukas method, african philosophy is conceived as a joint venture and product of both the ancient traditional and modern african philosophers. Chapter 2 deals with trends in african philosophy from two perspectives. Trends in african philosophy, philosophy of education, henry odera oruka. In this article, we seek to reflect on the implications of the four trends on education in africa.